But the figures, by researcher Ipsos Mori, also show that people are more pessimistic about public services now than at any other point in the past 15 years.

Three in five think they have declined in the past five years, an increase from the 43 per cent who said the same in 2015.

The figures show that people feel more pessimistic about almost every aspect of public services than they did in 2015. But only 26 per cent said they or their families have been directly affected by cuts.

Perceptions about the future of policing have declined to the lowest levels since 2002. Two in five people think that the way their area is policed will decline over the next few years, with just one in ten believing it will improve.

There was also a drop in the number of people who felt cuts had been necessary, with just 45 per cent feeling that way compared to 59 per cent in 2013.

Analysts said the data showed "record levels of concern" about public services, but that worries were not yet affecting the significant Conservative poll lead, which currently stands at 21 points.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos Mori, said: "Confidence in the government’s policies for public services is much lower than in its economic policies, but so far that isn’t stopping the Conservatives keeping a clear lead in people’s voting intentions.”